Apparatus for applying bottle-stopper rubbers.



No. 893,624. PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

E. HARDING.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING BOTTLE STOPPER RUBBERS.

APPLICATION IILEDAUG. 81, 1907. r

. I I10 eJzZbr. &Z;M f lia7zwliarali M 1% M ELISHA HARDING, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING BOTTLE-STOPPER RUBBERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Application filed August 31, 1907. Serial No. 390,906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELISHA HARDING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Applying Bottie-Stopper Rubbers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of simple and effective apparatus for applying to bottle-stoppers the disk-like rubbers or washers whereby an air-tight seal is effected when the stopper is inserted in the mouth of the bottle.

Bottle-sto pers of the character referred to are usuaiiy made of glass or orcelain and have an annularly grooved an tapered neck which is inserted in the bottle, the rub ber being stretched to snap into the groove, and it is then turned up around the exterior of the tapered neck, in well known manner. At present the rubbers (which form a packing or gasket between the neck of the stopper and the mouth of the bottle) are applied by hand, the rubber being first pushed down u on a conical form and its opening gradua y stretched until it can receive the neck of the stopper. This mode of attachment is slow and laborious, for the operator has to stretch the rubber by grasping it with the fingers and pulling hard, while at the same time drawing it down along the conical form.

By my present invention the labor is greatly reduced, the a plication of the rub bers facilitated, and the cramping or injuring of the fingers of the operator entirely prevented.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying one form of my invention, arranged to be actuated by the foot of the operator; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the upper part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a detail showing the manner in which the rubber or washer is stretched by the apparatus, the stopper being shown as positioned to receive the rubber; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the upper part of the aparatus shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 5 is a modified orm of the apparatus, adapted to be worked by the hand of the operator, as will be described.

Referring first to Fig. 3, the bottle-stopper is of well-known form, comprising a head 6, and a tapered neck I) provided with an external annular groove b having a convexed or button-like end b the washer-like rubber R being in practice a rather thick disk of rubber, of proper diameter, and having a central opening to receive the neck I) and snap into the groove b all as usual, the rubber being indicated in dotted line Fig. 2, as applied to the closed spreader device, in readiness to be stretched.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, I provide a suitable base 1 having an upright 2 and lateral arm 3, by means of which I rigidly sustain an upright, stationary support or post 4, having secured to it at or near its upper end a collar 5 provided with radial pairs of ears 6, three pairs being shown in Fig. 4. Between the ears of each pair I fulcrum at 7 a spreader member 8, said members having their longer lower ends out turned, at 9, and pivotally connected with links 10 which are at their lower ends pivoted onto a collar 11 slidable on the support or post 4.

Above the fixed arm 3 a collar 12 is fixedly mounted on the post 4 and a coiled spring 13 is interposed between the collars 11 and 12, the spring normally acting to lift collar 11 and through the links 10 to swing outward the depending ends of the spreader members 8. This action of the spring moves their upper ends inward, so that they normally converge and form a cone, and I prefer to make the extremities of said upper ends segmental in cross-section, so that they will when closed present a small cylindrical tip. This tip ortion of the spreader members is indicatec at 14, the external. diameter of the closed tips of the spreader members being such that the same will readily enter the opening of a rubber R, see dotted lines Fig. 2, when applied to the apparatus.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a foot treadle 15 mounted on the base and connected by rods 16 with the sliding collar 11.

When using this a paratus the operator stands in front of it, places a rubber upon the closed cylindrical tip of the multi-part spreader, as in Fig. 2, and depresses the treadle 15, thereby drawing down collar 11 and drawing inward the depending ends of i Fig. 5, the post 4 being much shortened and the members 8 the cylindrical shape of the closed tip holding the rubber in place thereon. Thereby their converging ti s 14 are moved simultaneously and uniform y in radial paths away from each other, stretching the rubber and enlarging its opening, the rubber dropping over into the position shown in section, Fig. 3, as it is spread or stretched, as the opening movement of the outer surface of the tip portion then acts to turn the rubber downwards. The operator then grasps a bottle-stopper and inserts its neck into the enlarged opening of the rubber R, with the groove 1) positioned, as shown in Fig. 3, and then the pressure upon the treadle 15 is relieved. The operator now, with his fingers, turns up the rubber into dotted line position Fig. 3, and withdraws the stopper and rubber from the spreader, such withdrawal being easily effected. As the stopper and washer are withdrawn the elasticity of the rubber R causes it to contract and bind firmly, hugging the groove Z2 of the neck, as will be manifest. When the spring 13 is free to act it lifts the collar 11, closes the tips of the spreader members, and the apparatus is in readiness for applying a rubber to another stopper.

The operation is rapid, there is no strain upon the fingers of the operator, and the device returns to receiving position automatically after each rubbered stopper has been removed.

Instead of operating the apparatus by foot power it may be actuated by one hand, as in fastened to a base 1*, while the spreader members 8 are modified to make their lower ends longer relatively to their upper ends, so that they may be encircled and grasped by the hand of the operator, to compress them and open their upper ends. The closing is eifected by spring 13 collar 11 and links 10*, acting as hereinbefore described for similar parts in the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4.

It will be manifest that where a large number of stop ers are to be provided with rubbers, and t e work is constantly going on,

the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 will be preferable as its operation is the more rapid. When the number of sto pers to be rubbered is small, or the work 1s intermittent, the other form of apparatus may be conveniently used.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In apparatus of the class described, a multi-part spreader comprising a plurality of members normally converging at their outer ends to form a cone terminating in a cylindrical tip adapted to enter the opening of the rubber, a'spring to normally maintain the spreader members closed, and means con trolled by the operator to separate the converging ends of said members and open the cylindrical tip of the spreader, to thereby stretch the rubber and enlarge its opening.

2. In apparatus of the class described, an upright stationary support, a plurality of radially-movable spreader members pivotally connected therewith and extended above its upper end, adapted when closed to present a cylindrical tip to enter the opening of a rubber, means to normally retract said members and maintain them closed, and separate means to simultaneously move the spreader members away from each other.

3. In apparatus of the class described, an upright stationary support, a plurality of radially movable spreader members fulcrumed thereon and having their upper ends shaped to present an external cylindrical form when closed, to enter the opening of and retain a rubber in position to be stretched, a closing spring, and means intermediate said spring and the lower ends of the spreader members to normally press together their upper ends.

4. In apparatus of the class described, an upright stationary support, a plurality of radially movable spreader members fulcrumed thereon and extended above it, the upper end of each of said members being made segmental to fit together and present an externally cylindrical tip when closed, to enter the opening in a rubber and retain the rubber in position, and spring-controlled means operatively connecting the lower ends of the spreader members and normally maintaining their upper ends closed.

5. In apparatus of the class described, an upright stationary support, a plurality of radially movable spreader members fulerumed thereon and extended above it, the i. F

upper end of each of. said members being made segmental to fit together and present a cylindrical tip when closed, to enter the open ing in a rubber, and spring-controlled means operatively connecting the lower ends of the spreader members and normally maintaining their upper ends closed, combined with a foot-treadle, and a connection between it and the spreader members, to open their upper ends against the action of said spr1ng- 

